Laptop Purchase Program
Overview
JSerra Catholic High School is excited to continue its laptop initiative by offering students the opportunity to work with technology everyday. This document outlines the process for purchasing student laptops and provides instructions on how to register your laptop computer with the school.
A Parent-Supported Model
JSerra’s laptop initiative is a parent-supported program that requires parents to directly purchase all computer equipment. JSerra is also offering a “you choose” program that allows parents to either take advantage of JSerra’s academic pricing or to purchase a system outside of the program. All computers purchased outside of the program must meet the minimum system specification listed within this document.
Purchasing Options
Purchasing Option 1: Dell
JSerra has established a program with the Dell Corporation that allows the school to offer a laptop computer at substantial savings.
Dell will be offering the Latitude E5500 laptop to the JSerra community. This is a sleek attractive laptop and more importantly comes equipped with everything your student will need (including preinstalled, licensed copies of Microsoft Office Home Student Edition and Adobe Acrobat 9.0) in order to effectively participate in our computing environment. Parents will have the option to upgrade from the base configuration directly through the Dell online portal. The online ordering process is a self-service application that allows parents to purchase the Dell notebooks at a significant discount. Priced out on the web, you will find that this laptop package would retail at around $1500; JSerra’s price: $1,240.12 (sales tax and shipping not included). This is an incredible offer! Don’t miss out!
Instructions for Dell laptops:
Ordering may begin June 1st and will continue throughout the 2009-2010 school year. Purchases can be made by phone by calling Dell sales at 1-866-257-4711 (option 2) or by going to Dell’s website. JSerra’s membership number is KS29251891. Please have the laptops shipped to your home address. Approximate turn around time to receive your laptop is 10 business days or 2 weeks, therefore, all Dell orders must be submitted by August 9th in order to ensure that you will receive your laptop in time for the start of the school year.
Support and Warranty Services: Dell
Those systems purchased through the Dell program will come with a standard 3 year mail-in/on-site support plan. Additional insurance and extended warranties can be purchased through Dell and is highly recommended by JSerra. However, the extended insurance plan is an added cost and is at the discretion of the parent. The enhanced insurance/complete-care plan allows for systems to be repaired or replaced at no cost in the event of damage, spills, surges, drops, or breakages.
It is important to note that the hardware (replacement) support services for the Dell computers are through the Dell Corporation and NOT JSerra Catholic High School. All hardware malfunctions and replacement issues will be escalated to your laptop manufacturer or local PC repair shop.
Purchasing Option 2: Other laptops
Students are also able to purchase their own system outside of the Dell program. This means students can select their systems of choice (including Apple computers) by ordering on-line or going to stores such as BestBuy, Dell, Gateway, Frys, Microcenter, etc. Students are not limited to Windows/Intel-based systems. However, the school will be teaching through the standard Microsoft Office Suite (Word/Excel/PowerPoint). Additionally, systems purchased through Option 2 require the laptop to meet the system specifications outlined below.
Apple Notebook System Requirements:
- Mac OS X or Greater
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- 512MB (2GB recommended) of RAM
- 60GB (120GB recommended) hard drive
- 802.11B/G Wireless Airport Card
- Safari or Mozilla Firefox
PC Notebook System Requirements:
- Windows XP Home Edition / Professional / Vista
- Microsoft Office 2003 Academic
- 512MB (2GB recommended) of RAM
- Minimum 60GB (80GB recommended) hard drive
- 802.11B/G wireless card
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher or Mozilla Firefox
Support and Warranty Services:
While computer assistance is offered to all students, it is not possible for the JSerra staff to provide fast and effective service for all combinations of hardware and software. We will make a reasonable attempt to help, but non-standard equipment may need to be referred to outside resources.
Please be sure to ask your sales rep or manufacturer about additional warranty services, replacement programs, and on-site service.
Make sure to download, fill out, and turn in the Laptop Registration Form before the start of school in the fall.
